• King Charles hosts Nigerians ahead of visit
Britain will impose airspace restrictions and deploy armed police officers in Windsor next week as President Bola Tinubu arrives for a state visit to be hosted by King Charles III.

Tinubu is expected to begin the visit in the company of his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday, March 18, with a reception at Windsor Castle.

Thames Valley Police, in a statement on its website on Wednesday, said it was working with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, the Royal Household and other security partners.

The force said airspace restrictions over Windsor Castle, which are in place permanently throughout the year, would be extended on Wednesday, March 18, to cover the period from 7 a.m. to 11.59 p.m.

Chief Superintendent Adrian Hall of Thames Valley Police’s Joint Operations Unit said the air restrictions formed part of a broader security operation for the visit.

He said the Force would take a strong stance in enforcing the restrictions, warning that any breach would constitute a criminal offence under the Air Navigation Order and could lead to arrest.

The police chief said officers with specialist capabilities, including search teams, the Mounted Section, road policing, and armed units, would be deployed across Windsor, alongside neighbourhood policing and Project Servator resources.

The authorities will also deploy an extensive closed-circuit television network, hostile vehicle mitigation barriers, and other undisclosed security measures for the event.

He urged members of the public to support the security operation by remaining vigilant.

Road closures and parking restrictions will take effect from Tuesday, March 17, with possible temporary disruption to roads in and around Windsor during the visit.

Meanwhile, King Charles III welcomed members of the Nigerian diaspora in the UK on Wednesday evening in a pre-visit reception ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s state visit, the first by a Nigerian leader in 37 years.

Held at an undisclosed royal venue, the event featured jollof rice and live music by Dele Sosimi and the Afrobeats Orchestra.

The last Nigerian leader to undertake a UK state visit was former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, in 1989.